Helping Each Other Out

I once read an article about a Native American tribe that would every few years place most of their possessions into a pile and ritually burn them. They did this both to lighten their burden and as an act of confidence in the future. While I can’t say that we are going to such extreme measures we are in the process of purging almost everything. If it doesn’t fit into the FJ Cruiser, it is gone one way or another.Earlier today we had the honor of meeting a family that had their home tragically totally destroyed by the tornadoes that went through East Texas earlier this week. With the storm rapidly approaching the four of them and their little black dachshund hunkered down into a large hole that their son had dug nearby, just for the fun of digging. The tornado ripped their home from its foundation and spread it and their belongings in a pasture only to be further ruined by torrential rains. They survived only with the most important things, their lives and each other.I mention these folks because with us in a get rid of everything mode we were able to help them out a little. It felt good being able to go deeper and give more than we would have otherwise. In a way it honestly felt like they were doing us a favor too; taking things off of our hands that we otherwise would have had to sell or donate to a faceless charity. This way we knew that that which we no longer need was going to get a second life with people that could use it. It also got me to thinking.Why do we have to be in “get rid of everything mode” to “go deeper and give more than we would have otherwise?” Couldn’t we have given more in “normal” mode? Numerous psychological studies have shown that giving not only benefits the beneficiary of the gift but the giver as well. In Thailand, Buddhists view the act of ‘giving’ as the fundamental religious practice. It seems like lately the American culture has taken on an opposite, “you are on your own” attitude.If we aren’t looking out for each other how can we work together to improve our country? Is that notion dead in modern day America because we all want the liberty to be “enlightenedly selfish”? Some things and are just too big (health care, education, environment) to solve just by giving away some stuff you don’t need anymore. We live in what is – for now – the most prosperous country on the planet. Why don’t we all find a way to work together and solve big problems? Wouldn’t we all feel better? Wouldn’t we actually BE BETTER?

In 2011 I sold everything I owned, took early retirement and began traveling the world. It was a pretty radical step, but after living a rather typical American life, a life based on seeking comforts and accumulating possessions, I longed for adventure and experiences far more than holding on to my “stuff.”

I started this blog to demonstrate to my fellow baby boomers that the world is not some scary place to fear, but it is an amazing place, full of adventure, that is still open and available to those who are motivated and curious enough to go out and see it for themselves.